HRV track team splits with Crook County

HOOD RIVER — Thursday’s track meet at Henderson Stadium culminated with one of the best finishes in recent memory.

Leading by two points (71-69), the Hood River Valley boys needed to win the 4 x 400 relay to defeat Crook County. But the Cowboys were able to hold onto their lead over the final two legs, winning the event by three seconds (3:45 to 3:48), and thus winning the meet 74-71.

The HRV girls 4 x 400 team also ran a spirited race, overcoming a late surge by the Cowgirls. But the drama was much less as they emerged with a convincing 94-50 victory.

“Both the boys and girls teams did a great job,” said HRV coach Shawn Meyle. “Unfortunately the boys came up just short of a team victory. But there were some great individual performances and a ton of personal records.”

Leading the way for the HRV girls was sophomore Kayla Lloyd, who won three events (800, 1,500 and 3,000 meters) and anchored the 4 x 400 relay team to victory (4:27.88). Lloyd outlasted teammates Melissa Kauffman and Ashley Braniff in both the 1,500 (5:04.96) and 3,000 (11:05.1), and won the 800 with ease (2:33.24).

Kauffman finished second in the 1,500 with a time of 5:06.26 and third in the 3,000 (11:10.6), while Braniff finished second in the 3,000 (11:10.3) and third in the 1,500 (5:13).

Junior Markee Cox also had a big day, winning both the 100 (13.02) and 200 (26.63), and running on both winning relay teams.

“I’ve still got a ways to go,” said Cox, a 2004 state qualifier. “I need to get my 100 time down to about 12.4 if I want to get back to state.”

Other Thursday highlights included sophomore Jacquie Mattson, who won the high jump with a season-best leap of 5 feet, and the 100-meter hurdles in 17.74 seconds; freshman Kari Hidle, who won the triple jump with a PR mark of 32 feet, 7 inches, and took second in the 200 (27.63); and senior Meghan Flink, who won the pole vault at 9’6”.

Additional second-place finishes for the girls team were turned in by sophomore Laura Yates in the 400 (1:04.18); senior Kristen Hedges in the triple jump (31’7”); senior Elizabeth Cobarrubias in the discus (84’2.5”); junior Jessica Wienholt in the high jump (4’10”); junior McKenna Hering in the pole vault (9’6”); junior Melissa Princehouse in the 800 (2:48.79); and Flink in the 100 (13.85).

Freshman Lindsey Halliday finished third in the triple jump (30’9”); Wienholt finished third in the 100 hurdles (19.65); Yolanda Ledezma took third in the 800 (2:52.16); Alisandra Denton took third in the pole vault (9 feet); and Cobarrubias was third in the shot put (24’8.5”).

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Highlighting the day for the boys was senior Adam Brown, who won both the 100 (11.97 ) and 200 (24.18), and ran on both second-place relay teams.

Freshman David Warren won the 110 hurdles (19.05) and 300 hurdles (44.45); senior Alex Jimenez won the 3,000 (9:18.8); freshman Leo Castillo won the 1,500 (4:18.72); freshman Antonio Garcia won the triple jump with a leap of 38’8”; and sophomore Joel Miller took first in the pole vault at 12 feet.

Second-place finishes for the Eagles were turned in by junior Jacob Thornton in the 100 (12.1) and javelin (132’5”); Stefan Zoza in the 110 hurdles (20.15), 300 hurdles (49.78) and high jump (5’4”); Castillo in the 3,000 (9:30.8); Miller in the triple jump (36’3”); and Warren in the pole vault (10’6”) and long jump (18’6”).